The gaps in reality had started their own music festival. Because apparently, cosmic mysteries have a thing for interdimensional entertainment.

  "Anyone else concerned that the spaces between dreams are taking song requests?" said Zephyr Nightshade, watching as another reality fracture harmonized with the enlightened coffee machine's latest hit.

  "At least they have good taste," Luna commented, her golden form swaying to what sounded like quantum physics set to jazz fusion.

  Aria moved closer to us, her predatory grin tight with concern. "The vibrations are affecting the barriers between dimensions," Aria observed as reality rippled in rhythm.

  "THE CONCERT NEEDS MORE CHEESE!" Bob swirled excitedly around us. "EVERYTHING NEEDS MORE CHEESE!"

  Rex, his sparkly fur now pulsing in time with the cosmic melody, shook his head. "Something's not right," Rex growled. "These aren't just songs – they're changing reality's frequency."

  The Architect materialized, his form unusually tense. "The wolf is correct," the Architect announced, creating patterns that showed reality's harmonics shifting. "These aren't random melodies. They're... a countdown."

  "A countdown to what?" Zephyr Nightshade asked, our indigo flames detecting subtle changes in the void energy around us.

  Selene appeared, her ancient power resonating with the mysterious music. "To the great unmaking," Selene whispered. "The gaps aren't just spaces between dreams – they're where dreams go to die."

  Luna's staff pulsed with urgent patterns. "The harmonics match creation's original frequency," Luna explained, her enhanced understanding of reality showing her something terrifying. "But in reverse."

  Through our connection, Aria shared a chilling realization. "They're not starting a concert," Aria said, watching new fractures appear between dimensions. "They're trying to unmake the dream itself."

  "And using our own office party as cover," Zephyr Nightshade added, feeling our power build in response to the threat. "That's just rude."

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  The enlightened coffee machine, still performing its existential hits, suddenly shifted its melody to something darker. "THE VOID BETWEEN DREAMS CALLS," it announced in a voice that definitely wasn't about coffee anymore. "THE FINAL SONG APPROACHES."

  Rex's fur stopped sparkling entirely. "Okay, that's definitely not good," Rex said, shifting into his battle form.

  "We need to stabilize the harmonics," the Architect urged, already weaving complex patterns. "Before the countdown reaches zero."

  Luna's new powers let her see the full scope of the threat. "Five days," Luna calculated, her golden light pulsing with urgency. "We have five days before the anti-dream completes its composition."

  "WHAT ABOUT THE PARTY?" Bob asked, genuinely concerned about priorities.

  "Bob," Zephyr Nightshade sighed, "if we don't stop this, there won't be any reality left to party in."

  Through the viewing portals, we could see other dimensions starting to resonate with the cosmic dirge. Each note unmade a little more of existence, replacing it with... nothing. Not void, not chaos, but pure absence.

  "We need to find the conductor," Aria suggested, her tactical mind already forming plans. "Whatever's orchestrating this has to be at the center of it all."

  The Architect's form flickered with recognition. "The Dreamer had a twin," the Architect revealed, his voice heavy with ancient knowledge. "One who dreamed of nothing."

  "Of course," Selene breathed. "The anti-dream. The un-maker."

  "Great," Zephyr Nightshade muttered, our indigo flames preparing for another impossible battle. "Evil cosmic twins. Because regular cosmic entities weren't challenging enough."

  Luna's staff created new patterns, showing us what we faced. "The gaps are its gateway," Luna explained. "Each song, each harmony, widens them a little more. When the countdown ends..."

  "It wakes up," Aria finished, her predatory grin now fierce with determination.

  Rex howled, a sound that carried through multiple dimensions. "Then we have five days to crash its concert," Rex declared.

  "Four days," Luna corrected, watching another reality fade into the growing nothing. "Its song is accelerating."

  Through our connection, Aria and I shared the same thought: we needed help. All of it.

  "Bob," Zephyr Nightshade called out, "get every chaos entity ready. We're going to need everyone for this."

  "EVEN THE CONCEPTUAL CHEESE DEPARTMENT?" Bob asked hopefully.

  "Especially them," Aria confirmed, already forming battle plans. "We need every impossible thing we've got."

  The Architect and Selene began preparing ancient spells, while Luna's enhanced powers searched for weaknesses in the anti-dream's symphony of unmaking.

  Reality trembled as the countdown continued, each note bringing the final movement closer.

  "You know what's really annoying?" Zephyr Nightshade said, watching as our forces gathered for perhaps their final battle. "We never did fix that coffee machine in Dimension 47."

  The enlightened coffee machine, now performing a dramatic power ballad about existence, chose that moment to announce its grand finale: "Grounds for Apocalypse: A Barista's Lament."

  At least the end of reality had a soundtrack.

  Check out my Patreon! Become a member to enjoy early access to chapters, a 20% promo code for my shop, and downloadable PDFs for offline reading. Each chapter includes its own audio version, and you'll get a sneak peek of new chapters as they come out. Additionally, members have access to a live chat box, exclusive voting power, and special shout-outs. Just click on "Support" and then select "Patreon"! Patreon members will always be 5 chapters ahead of you!

  Currently, I will not upload new chapters on Patreon until I have at least one paid member. Once that happens, Patreon members will always have access to five chapters ahead of others, so consider joining!